May R Berenbaum

May R Berenbaum is a distinguished Professor and Maybelle Leland Swanlund Endowed Chair in the Department of Entomology at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. She has held leadership roles since 1992 as department head and since 1996 as Swanlund Chair. Her affiliations include the Center for Advanced Study, Plant Biology, Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences, Prairie Research Institute, and Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology. Educated at Yale (B.S., 1975) and Cornell (Ph.D., 1980), her research focuses on biochemical and genetic mechanisms of insect-plant interactions, pesticide impacts, and sustainable agroecosystem management. Supported by NSF/USDA grants, she has authored over 300 publications and six public outreach books. She chairs national committees on pesticide policy and pollinator health, and founded initiatives like the Insect Fear Film Festival and Beespotter citizen-science portal.

Research interests emphasize detoxification pathways in insects, pollinator conservation, and ecological applications for sustainable practices. Her work bridges molecular biology, ecology, and public engagement, highlighted by awards including AAAS Fellowship and the Addison Emery Verrill Medal. She serves on editorial boards, such as the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, and actively promotes scientific literacy through media and educational outreach.

• Education: Yale University (B.S., 1975), Cornell University (Ph.D., 1980)
• Key Affiliations: Center for Advanced Study, Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology
• Grants: NSF and USDA funding since 1980

Her scientific contributions address global challenges like pesticide regulation, pollinator decline, and ecological resilience, with a focus on translating research into actionable conservation strategies.